Thursday, January 10, 2008
Small deciduous trees ideal for planting in Virginia
John Arbogast
Landscape consultant John Arbogast answers your questions every Thursday. Send questions about your lawn, garden, plants, or insects to:
Dear John
5102 Greenfield St. SW
Roanoke, Va. 24018
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Q: I need your suggestions for a new tree that I can plant in my front yard in the spring. This will replace a Bradford Pear tree that was split apart by the winter weather. I live in Roanoke, Va. I want a small stature tree, but I’d like several suggestions. A friend suggested some kind of flowering cherry.
A: Many deciduous small tree suggestions come to mind. Let's start with flowering cherries. Consider the Shubert variety of Choke Cherry, which can also be called Canada Red Choke Cherry (botanic name Prunus virginiana, Shubert, Canada Red). This vigorous tree has upward-growing branches and can reach a height of 20 to 30 feet. It has colorful foliage, flowers, and fruit but unfortunately can be expected to live for only 10 to 20 years.
Another good ornamental cherry choice is the Amanogawa variety of Oriental Cherry (botanic name Prunus serrulata, Amanogawa). This small-growing ornamental cherry grows in a narrow columnar form and is also known as "Milky Way." It too has a short, useful life and might only last for about 15 years.
The many varieties of flowering crabapple can be used as small-growing trees. They are not on my "favorites" list, though, since I have not used them in my landscape.
I do like the Kousa Dogwood, which has many varieties (botanic name Cornus kousa), which is not susceptible to that fatal Discula Anthracnose disease like the Flowering Dogwood. This dogwood offers beautiful flowers and foliage plus has pealing bark when it gets older.
I love the gorgeous star-like flowers of the Star Magnolia (botanic name Magnolia stellata) in early to mid-spring here in Roanoke. This small tree grows like a narrow big bush. It features those beautiful flowers and has attractive foliage.
Amur Maple (botanic name Acer ginnala) and Paperbark Maple (botanic name Acer griseum) are good suggestions although they’re not used as flowering trees. Amur Maple is another small tree that can be grown as a large shrub. Its variety called "Flame" has showy fruits that turn bright red in the summer and fiery red in the fall. Its variety called "Embers" offers attractive red fruit plus great fall color. Paperbark Maple offers very attractive foliage and peeling bark as its name indicates.
Your small tree options should include any of the many available varieties of Eastern Redbud (botanic name Cercis Canadensis). You might even find the variety of Eastern Redbud named "Forest Pansy" that has purple leaves.
My list of small trees ends with the species and hybrids of Serviceberry (botanic name Amelanchier species and hybrids). I like this tree because of its white, hanging flower clusters that show up in early spring before it produces leaves.
Q: What is the proper way to fertilize trees? I live in southern Virginia.
A: Proper time of application is essential. Winter is not a good time to fertilize trees in Virginia. Adding nutrients can be beneficial in the spring, but the best time of year to help tree root growth is in mid-fall after the leaves have turned color or fallen but while the soil is still warm.
Trees located in a fertilized lawn will likely get many of the nutrients they need from lawn fertilization.
The most cost-effective method (using garden center tree fertilizers) is to scatter the granular product on the soil or turf around the tree in an area twice the size of the branch spread. Measuring the area first is essential so that your time and fertilizer are not wasted.
Tree fertilizer stakes can be pounded into the ground as recommended on the package or holes can be drilled within the tree's drip line into which granular fertilizer is placed. These methods are considered subsurface application, but have the disadvantage of locating nutrients only in specific spots.
Commercial tree professionals will sometimes apply liquid fertilizer to a tree's leaves to temporarily correct micronutrient deficiencies. Tree companies might sometimes inject or implant nutrients into tree roots or trunks. However, the tree openings that are left after the injections could eventually become wounds, posing a risk to the tree.
Tree nurserymen or growers will sometimes provide nutrients to trees through fertigation in which fertilizers are mixed into irrigation water.
